The ancient Egyptians mined emeralds nearly 4,000 years ago, and Cleopatra was an avid
collector. South America's rich bounty of emeralds was discovered by 16th century
Spanish explorers who found large emeralds in the pocession of the Aztecs
and Incas. Believed by the ancients to empower the owner with foresight
into the future, emerald is regarded as an amulet for good fortune.

Emerald, to many, symbolizes rebirth and the abundance of the life force. The rich green
hue brings to mind the regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities.
Emerald is the birthstone for May and a taliman for Gemini.

Spring can also be seen in the network of inclusions in the depth of the emerald that the French call
the jardin, or garden, because it resembles foliage. The inclusions are like a fingerprint, giving
each emerald a distinct personality and distinguishing them as truly natural gemstones.

Today, most of the world's emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. Emeralds can be cut in
a variety of different shapes, ranging from the traditional rectangular step-cut,
known as the "emearld cut," to rounds, ovals, squares and cabochons.

Early gemstones merchants sought to purift the transparency of their emeralds by immersing them in clear oils
or paraffin. They found that clear oils and waxes rendered surface fissures less visible to the eye. Today,
we have many sophisticated technologies with which to clarity-enhance emeralds. In addition
to the oils and waxes of ancient methods, we now use clear resins to penetrate the open
fissures surfacing in the stones. Hardeners are often added to solidify these
liquids. This step prevents the resin from evaporating, thus
making the clarity enhancement more permanent than
oiling or waxing the gem. Although emerald itself is
quite durable, the garden of inclusions may make
individual gems vulnerable to damage if
handled roughly.



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